Hair styling appiance with heated plates and hot air fan

ABSTRACT

A hair appliance ( 10 ) has a combination of heating plates ( 14, 15 ) and a fan ( 19 ) source of heated, forced air to selectively apply either or both to a user&#39;s hair.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to hair appliances and, more particularly, to hair appliances for applying heat while used for styling hair.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Existing appliances exist that are used for styling hair. Appliances that use heated plates for pressing a tuft of hair to straighten or style the hair generally comprise a handheld unit having an electrical heat element in thermal communication with heated plates of metal. Other appliances deliver forced air from a heat element juxtaposed next to a fan, as in a handheld hair dryer or a hot air brush.

Each of the above-mentioned types of known hair appliances has distinct benefits for styling hair and, depending on the circumstances, one is more desirable than the other. Sometimes a user may find one of them most suitable on one occasion, and the other most suitable on another occasion. At other times, a use may use both appliances in sequence during a single hair styling session. Thus, two separate appliances are required.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a versatile, multi-function, single hair appliance that achieves the benefits of a plurality of appliances of the type described above. These objects and others are achieved by the present invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention achieves the above-mentioned objects through a novel hair appliance having a combination of heating plates and a source of heated, forced air to selectively apply either or both to a user's hair.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a top view of a device according to the present invention.

FIG. 1B is a distal end view of a device according to the present invention.

FIG. 1C is a side view of a device according to the present invention shown in a closed position.

FIG. 1D is a proximal end view of a device according to the present invention.

FIG. 1E is a bottom view of a device according to the present invention.

FIG. 1F is a side view of a device according to the present invention shown in an opened position.

FIG. 1G is a partial, top view of a portion of a device according to the present invention.

FIG. 1H is a side, cross-sectional view of a device according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A hair appliance (10) according to the present invention comprises an upper handle portion (11), a lower handle portion (12), and a hinge (13) connecting the respective portions (11, 12). An upper heat plate (14) is attached to the upper handle portion (11) and a lower heat plate (15) is attached to the lower handle portion (12), each in a position such that they are facing each other and can be pressed into contact with each other when the handle portions (11, 12) are pivoted about the hinge (13) toward each other. An internal plate heating assembly (16, 17) is associated with each plate (14, 15) to deliver heat thereto, said heating assemblies being electrically-powered as is know to those skilled in the art. A power cord (18) delivers electricity from an external source. A fan and heater assembly (19) resides in a chamber internally in the upper handle portion (12) to provide heated, flowing air in a manner known to those skilled in the art. A display panel (20) is provided for displaying operating information such as temperature or settings, and it may be a light emitting diode (LED). LCD, or other known type of display. A metal panel (21) having textured dimples for enhanced grip is provided. The use of metal for the panel (21) provides a very durable, corrosion-resistant, scratch-resistant and easily cleaned surface. A set of raised ridges (22) are provided as a gripping element that will prevent slippage of the appliance (10) relative to the hand by serving as a stop if the appliance (10) slips to the point of contacting a user's thumb or finger while the appliance (10) is gripped on the panel (20). Side vents (23) provide an external air intake for the fan assembly (19). Distal end gripping ridges (24) are provided for additional gripping ability. Control buttons (25, 26) are provided for increasing or decreasing temperature or setting when the power switch button (27) is activated. A hot air button (28) is provided to independently activate the fan and heater assembly (19). An internal contact switch (29) is provided so that when the hot air button (28) is activated, upon closing the handle portions (11, 12) together, the internal contact switch (29) switches the fan and heater assembly (19) on to cause heated air to flow out of airflow openings (30) in the heat plates (14, 15). The heat plates (14, 15) are identical, so only one (14) is featured in the view of FIG. 1G. Venting openings (31) are provided on the back side of each of the handle portions (11, 12) and they are in communication with the interior of each handle portion (11, 12) and the airflow openings (30) to prevent pressure buildup inside of the handle portions (11, 12) if, for example, a tuft of hair closed between the heat plates (14, 15) obstructs flow from the airflow openings (30). Another intake vent (32) is provided on the lower handle portion (12), as well as a set of raised ridges (33) are provided on the lower handle portion (12) to prevent slippage from a user's hand. A swivel mechanism (34) enables the power cord (18) to be rotatably mounted. A comb attachment (36) may be provided to assist in styling.

In operation, the appliance (10) is held in a user's hand and is initially in an opened position as shown in FIG. 1F. By depressing the power button (27), the user can then select a heat setting using the control buttons (25, 26). The user may then place a tuft of the user's hair between the heat plates (14, 15) and close the handle portions (11, 12) together as shown in FIG. 1C by pivoting them about the hinge (13). If desired, the user can activate the hot air function by depressing the hot air button (28). In this mode, hot air will be emitted from the openings (30) when the plates (14, 15) are close together or touching, as shown in FIG. 1C, but hot air will cease to be emitted when the plates (14,15) are apart as in the opened position as shown in FIG. 1F.

While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been herein described, various modification may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 

1. A hair appliance comprising a first handle portion; a second handle portion; a hinge pivotally joining said first handle portion to said handle portion at a respective proximal end of each; a first heat plate located on a distal end of said first handle portion; a first heat element associated with said first heat plate for heating said first heat plate; a second heat plate located on a distal end of said second handle portion; a second heat element associated with said second heat plate for heating said second heat plate; a first interior passage within said first handle portion; a fan mounted in said first interior passage for moving air within said first interior passage; a fan heater mounted near said fan for heating air that is moved by said fan; an electrical energy input channel for delivering electricity to operate said first heat element, said second heat element, said fan, and said fan heater; a plurality of air outlet openings in communication with said first interior passage for said air to exit after it is heated and moved by said fan; and at least one air inlet opening in communication with said first interior passage for enabling external air to be delivered to said first interior passage.
 2. An appliance according to claim 1, further comprising a second interior passage within said second handle portion; and a plurality of vent openings on said second handle and in communication with said second interior passage to allow air to flow therethrough.
 3. An appliance according to claim 1, further comprising an internal switch system mounted within at least one of said first handle portion or said second handle portion that is activated when said first handle portion and said second handle portion are in an at least partially closed condition and that is de-activated when said first hand portion and said second handle portion are in an opened position, wherein activation of said internal switch causes said fan to operate and de-activation of said internal switch causes said fan to cease operation.
 4. An appliance according to claim 1, further comprising a display mounted on one of said first handle portion and said second handle portion for visually indicating an operating condition of said appliance.
 5. An appliance according to claim 1, further comprising a metal plate having a non-smooth surface portion mounted to one of said first handle portion and said second handle portion.
 6. An appliance according to claim 1, further comprising a raised ridge between a proximal end and a distal end of one of said first handle portion and said second handle portion.
 7. An appliance according to claim 1, further comprising a heat setting control for selectively adjusting temperature of said heat plates. 